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On an Ivanhoe block the pot is the highest thing under the trees, and everything the canopy drops lands in it. FreshDuct fits caps with guards that keep leaves, birds and possums out of period flues, and spark arrestors where a wood fire sits close to branches.
Possum in the Ivanhoe chimney? A guard fitted to the pot keeps it out; a sweep first makes sure it is not still in there.
The terracotta pots on Ivanhoe's Federation and Edwardian chimneys were never designed for what now surrounds them. When the houses were built the trees were saplings; a century on they arch over the roofs, and an open pot beneath them takes leaves, twigs, bark and the occasional bird or possum looking for somewhere warm. A guard is not a luxury on these blocks, it is what keeps the flue usable.
The right terminal depends on the flue beneath it. A working open fire gets a rain cap with a mesh guard fine enough to stop litter and birds but open enough not to choke the draw. A disused flue in the same stack gets a vented cap so the brick can breathe. A wood heater run up an old chimney gets a cowl matched to its liner, with a spark arrestor mesh if branches hang anywhere near the terminal.
Under a canopy the mesh itself needs looking after, because a guard that has caught a winter of litter and soot can end up as blocked as the open pot was. We fit guards that can be cleared from the roof at a sweep, fix every cap with fasteners that will not rust in the damp, and photograph the finished terminal from the roof so you can see it seated and clear.
Guarded caps, vented caps and spark arrestor cowls for the pots on Ivanhoe's period chimneys, fitted from the roof beneath the trees and photographed.
An open pot under an Ivanhoe tree fills with litter and then with whatever wants to nest on it. A cap with a mesh guard keeps all of it out, and we clear the flue with the camera on before the guard goes on so nothing is trapped.
A wood fire on a block where branches overhang the roof needs a spark arrestor at the terminal. The mesh keeps embers in the flue, and we size it so the fire still draws properly rather than smouldering behind a clogged screen.
A guard under heavy litter can block as badly as an open pot. We fit terminals that can be cleared from the roof at the annual sweep, so the cap that keeps the leaves out does not become the thing that stops the flue drawing.
Real photos from Melbourne jobs — not stock, not staged.




We measure the pot on the roof, check the flue is clear of litter and nests with the camera, and fit a cap or cowl that suits the fireplace below. Harness work covers the steep Federation roofs and the branches that crowd them.
A photo of the finished cap comes with the invoice, so you can see the guard seated square and the pot properly sealed without having to go up among the trees yourself.
Documented end to end — every job, every suburb.
Flue size, terminal type and roof access checked.
The right cap or cowl for the appliance and the problem.
Firm price before any work.
Fixed and sealed from the roof, safely.
Draw checked with the cap on.
A photo of the finished cap from the roof.
Verified 5-star reviews from across FreshDuct’s duct, heating, cooling and chimney services.
“Allen provided exceptional service — friendly, professional and went above and beyond.”
Verified
“Highly impressed with the professionalism and efficiency. On time, and no mess left behind.”
Verified
“Exceeded my expectations. Knowledgeable, meticulous and respectful of our home.”
Verified
“So glad I chose FreshDuct. Knowledgeable team and the whole process was smooth from start to finish.”
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“Quick, efficient and professional — we could immediately feel the difference.”
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“The technician arrived on time and was incredibly thorough — the difference at home is obvious.”
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The same local team covers the suburbs around Ivanhoe. Explore nearby areas and related FreshDuct chimney services.
Yes, but the order matters. We check the flue with the camera first so nothing is sealed in, clear the nest or litter it has been living on, and then fit a cap with a guard the animal cannot get past. Capping an occupied flue only traps the problem in the house.
If branches overhang the roof or the garden is heavily treed, a spark arrestor is a sensible fit on any wood-burning flue, open fire or heater. It stops embers leaving the terminal and doubles as a bird and litter guard. We size the mesh so the fire keeps drawing well.
An open flue lets rain, leaves and birds straight in. A cap keeps the flue dry, keeps nests out and, on a wood heater, a spark arrestor stops embers leaving the flue.
Usually a downdraught — wind pushing back down the flue. An anti-downdraught cowl is the normal fix; we confirm the draw with a test before and after.
Yes. If we are on the roof for a sweep and the flue needs a cap, we can quote it on the spot and fit it the same visit where we have the right size.
Send your details and the office confirms a window for Ivanhoe. No call-out fee, before and after photos, and honest advice on what your chimney needs and what it does not.